Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

FWIW, I bought my 1st 2 stager - Honda unit - without ever demoing a unit that had Hydrostatic Transmission.
Just short of the fact that it's variable infinite speed, can anyone just give me a laymens primer on the benefits of a Hydrostatic Transmission ?


BTW, how often if any do you do a OCI on the hydro transmission.

I was just surprised how much ~harder~ is is to move when not engadged as opposed to ~regular~ geared transmission.
I was at the local orange borg last night and wheeled the Organge buckets around and they wheel so much with ease...

Off topic but I have 2 Masters series mowers.  1 Hydrostatic and 1 3 speed.  I have owned Toro, Ariens, Craftsman, Lawnboy, Snapper  and I must say that I would not trade my masters for any other mower.  I use the Hydo all the time  and the 3 spd once in a while. I have used some of the newer Honda models but they are not the same.  aa335 wrote:

MN_Runner wrote:
NO self righteous OCD person mow wet and long grass.  Just not in cards.  The cut is terrible!

Homeowner mower doesn't have the oomph to do it.  You need a commercial 32" walkbehind or larger for that.

it is not an ideal condition but some weeks in summer you have no choice.  Happened to me a few times this summer.

   I have a CRAFTSMAN Model 52993 ,1450 series B&S engine, 27 inch snow blower . This model is built by Husqvarna and is identical to (except it is red instead of orange)  to the Husqvarna Model.    It has hydrostatic drive, power steering, heated grips,and the  remote chute controls  . This is the best snow blower out there,   The hydrostatic drive is a one lever operation,move it  forward to go forward an backward to go back. It can be operated at  a very low speed, barely moving forward with the engine set at its highest speed so the impeller and augers are turning at their max speed. It is much easier to go through very deep snow  with no reduction in RPM .The power steering enables it to turn in its own tracks  or make gradual steering adjustments. The heated grips are nice when the outside temperature drops.  The remote chute controls are easy to operate , are fast and logically designed. I would highly recommend these models.

royster wrote:
Interesting.  I knew that Husqvarna made chain and gear driven blowers but didn't know that they made hydrostatic models.  What is it's throwing distance like?

I would estimate 50-60 feet, depending on the type of snow.   Dry or drifted snow  50-60 feet,   wet slushy snow   25-30 feet..  I live where the houses are about 80-100 ft apart,  There are snowblowers at each house, various makes.  The snow at the sides of my driveway are lower than the others, because I can throw the snow farther, WE now have over   4 feet of snow on the ground, that is where it has not drifted.

The Husky "16530EXL" model has a Hydro.

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/landowner/products/snow-throwers/16530exl/

I've noticed some of the Husky/Craftsman models sold in Canada also have hydros. I have yet to see one being sold in the states though

. Paul7 wrote:

chefwong wrote:

The clutch lever does not have to be disengaged anytime,  Just hold down the clutch lever, and use the hydro lever only, when going from forward to reverse or  vice versa  changing speeds in forward or reverse, no stopping is required. This does not abuse the hydrostatic transmission, it is designed to work like this.    The hydro lever should not be moved unless the engine is running.

Royster,

    You seem to be a smart guy.  Can you go over in detail the advantages of the hydro and explain it's operation?   What are the bad points of a friction disk system? 

trouts2 wrote:

      I don't consider myself to be a smart guy, but I guess that is what it seems to you,  Thankyou anyway.

You can read my review of the Husqvarna  16530EXL , and in my opinion , the advantages and disadvantages of  hydrostatic drive , etc.

under the discussion heading,"Is a hydrostatic  drive good for a snowblower"

My message # 77.